CONTEXT: (5-10 minutes) What is Gooru?
Have you ever felt like your textbook didn't meet your students' needs? Have you struggled to find class materials for your students' interest or special learning needs? Are you fed up sifting through ads and irrelevant results produced by your current searches? If so, then Gooru is the tool you need.
Gooru is a search engine and content organization website designed specifically for education. Gooru's algorithm searches known, credible websites that are content and skill standards. Teachers can digitally "curate", or save and organize their findings, into "collections" for their students to explore in one continual module. Teachers can provide context and instruction at the top of each page and then build in comprehension questions for the collection. Gooru encourages sharing of collections, so it is possible to tweak existing collection to meet the individual needs of your students. The site is user-friendly and even allows for students easily build their own collections for research projects and peer teaching.
How can I access Gooru? If you're interested in this session, get a jump on the project and create your own Gooru account. You can also log in with a Google+ account.
On the top right-hand corner, click the register icon and complete the instructions. If you have any questions about the setup, feel free to email me using the link below. Email Dave
OVERVIEW OF FEATURES (10 minutes)
Searching
The search feature allows teachers to find content relevant information. For more specific results, use the filters on the left-hand side of the page. If you find a resource you like, drag it over to the collections tab to under your desired topic or start a new one all together. It's curating made simple!
Studying:
Once you complete your collection you can provide an introduction to the content or directions as seen on the right-hand side of the page. Students can explore the collection by clicking the study tab on the top right-hand side of the collection.
You'll also see the feedback function next to the title of the collection with the thumbs up and thumbs down. Rate collections you find to help future teachers find quality sources for their students.
Collection Pages: Each page of the collection allows the student to view the information within Gooru and then navigate previous or future pages by clicking the left and right arrows. This linear nature keeps students focused on the task at hand and limits distractions. On the top of each page, teachers can write instructions or focus questions to guide student learning.
Advanced Pages:
After mastering simple collections, teachers can later imbed web tools they've created for extended learning. This example shows a Crocodoc file that enables students to annotate documents and share comments with their peers. Teachers can also add pages with comprehension questions or they could imbed a quiz through a Google form.
MINI-TASK (15 minutes) and REFLECTION (5 minutes) Participants will be creating their own simple Gooru collection. First, they will search for resources related to their content and then add them to a collection. They will then create a comprehension question to check for student understanding. Instructions for the project can be found here:
Reflection prompt: 3-2-1: 3: List three (or as many as you can) ways you or a colleague could use Gooru with students. 2: List two challenges you would face using this tool with students. 1: List one lingering question you have about Gooru or something you'd like to learn more about.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Additional resources will be posted during the week of the institute.
HANDOUTS:
CONTEXT: (5-10 minutes)
What is Gooru?
Have you ever felt like your textbook didn't meet your students' needs? Have you struggled to find class materials for your students' interest or special learning needs? Are you fed up sifting through ads and irrelevant results produced by your current searches? If so, then Gooru is the tool you need.
Gooru is a search engine and content organization website designed specifically for education. Gooru's algorithm searches known, credible websites that are content and skill standards. Teachers can digitally "curate", or save and organize their findings, into "collections" for their students to explore in one continual module. Teachers can provide context and instruction at the top of each page and then build in comprehension questions for the collection. Gooru encourages sharing of collections, so it is possible to tweak existing collection to meet the individual needs of your students. The site is user-friendly and even allows for students easily build their own collections for research projects and peer teaching.
How can I access Gooru?
If you're interested in this session, get a jump on the project and create your own Gooru account. You can also log in with a Google+ account.
Click Here
On the top right-hand corner, click the register icon and complete the instructions. If you have any questions about the setup, feel free to email me using the link below.
Email Dave
OVERVIEW OF FEATURES (10 minutes)
Searching
The search feature allows teachers to find content relevant information. For more specific results, use the filters on the left-hand side of the page. If you find a resource you like, drag it over to the collections tab to under your desired topic or start a new one all together. It's curating made simple!
Studying:Once you complete your collection you can provide an introduction to the content or directions as seen on the right-hand side of the page. Students can explore the collection by clicking the study tab on the top right-hand side of the collection.
You'll also see the feedback function next to the title of the collection with the thumbs up and thumbs down. Rate collections you find to help future teachers find quality sources for their students.
Collection Pages:
Each page of the collection allows the student to view the information within Gooru and then navigate previous or future pages by clicking the left and right arrows. This linear nature keeps students focused on the task at hand and limits distractions. On the top of each page, teachers can write instructions or focus questions to guide student learning.
Advanced Pages:
After mastering simple collections, teachers can later imbed web tools they've created for extended learning. This example shows a Crocodoc file that enables students to annotate documents and share comments with their peers. Teachers can also add pages with comprehension questions or they could imbed a quiz through a Google form.
MINI-TASK (15 minutes) and REFLECTION (5 minutes)
Participants will be creating their own simple Gooru collection. First, they will search for resources related to their content and then add them to a collection. They will then create a comprehension question to check for student understanding. Instructions for the project can be found here:
Reflection prompt: 3-2-1:
3: List three (or as many as you can) ways you or a colleague could use Gooru with students.
2: List two challenges you would face using this tool with students.
1: List one lingering question you have about Gooru or something you'd like to learn more about.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Additional resources will be posted during the week of the institute.